Oceano shootout leads to hospitalization

An Oceano man was shot in a hail of bullets during an altercation with San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's deputies on August 8 at approximately 7:30 p.m., a witness said.

According to the witness, Bonnie Gerwe, the situation started when Chad Berryhill, 19, walked along the 2300 block of Beach Street, screaming and bashing out car windows.

Gerwe, 63, said that she discovered Berryhill slamming the butt of a bolt-action rifle against her Toyota Camry passenger window. When sheriff's deputies arrived, Berryhill turned and confronted them, Gerwe said.

"He raised his rifle, pumped it, and pulled the trigger," Gerwe added. "I heard boom, boom, boom. He was moving and screaming after he was shot. I think he was hit in the chest."